Possible move to TN

Hi everyone, My name is Julie and I currently live in St Paul, MN. In a few weeks my Husband has job interview in Portland, TN. I never considered leaving MN but his whole department is being elminated from MN. He currently works for Macys and they are building a warehouse in Portland, TN. I am hoping to get some "inside" information from you all. I would be very happy to hear anything, good and not so good you have to offer. I am especially interested in good school areas as we have two boys, 10 and 4. My older has dyslexia so I am especially in need of a school and area that has a strong speical ed program. Thank you in advance, I am very scared about this whole thing. I am very excited to come there next month, I just which it was under different cir****tances. Personally I am one year out now and I feel great. I am not at goal yet but all is good. My surgery and recovery went without much of a hitch...although I still miss food...or shall I say I miss the companionship/comfort food use to give me. I am down 128lbs and feel great. If we do move I would really like to get invovled in a support group, I can see from your post that would not be a problem. Have a great Holiday, Julie

Merry Christmas Julie. I can't help you out in the school department, my sons are grown. My youngest son lives in Portland, he has a 4 yr old son. I will be looking for a place to live while I am there for the holidays. Portland is a small town, but has a ton of police there, because of being on the KY boarderline and the drug running. It's easy to grocery shop in Franklin, KY, no taxes on food. I know there is an Elem. school, middle school, and a high school. You're about 20 minutes away from Gallatin, which is just south of Portland. That area has a lot of WLS friends that like to get together for lunch at least once a month. They talk about their experiences, give help to one who may either be considering surgery, what not to do and what to do. They are great people. When I am in the area, we get together again. If you are looking fora house, I can't help you out there either, I will be looking for an apartment. It's a town that is growing fast. But for department shopping, you would need to go to KY to Walmarts, or Gallatin for KMarts or Walmart. It's 22 miles from Bowling Green, KY, and a half hour to Madison to the malls. It's one hour from Nashville, and there is so much to see and do in Nashville. If I can be of further help, don't hesitate to ask, if I don't know the answers, I'll ask my son. Looking forward to meeting you. Always, Kathy

Hi Kathy, Thanks for the information! I have to admit that I wasn't expecting to learn about drug running between Kentucky and Tennessee. If you have anymore information about that I sure would appreciate you sharing it. With 2 kids and a possible move to an unknown area it's good to have all the facts, good or bad, before making any decisions about where to live. Is there Target department stores in those areas? Thanks again for all your help! Julie D

Hey Julie. I don't know if this post is going to be very helpful to you, as I'm not exactly sure where Portland is, but I'll tell ya what I know about Middle Tennessee schools. I am a special education teacher myself. I taught in Metro Nashville Public Schools for three years. I have moved back to west Tennessee now, though. Nashville's system is pretty good... supportive in special ed, very compliant. I had a good experience. The very best school system in Tennessee, and the one that I think does the best job serving students with specific learning disabilities is Williamson County. They offer services through full inclusion with lots of support and research based intervention. I believe Portland is closer to Sumner County... and I have heard good things about their school system as well. A few individuals I have worked with at a camp for kids and adults with developmental and physical disabilities went to school there. I don't know much about them... probably not as progressive as Davidson or Williamson County, but good. Pope John Paul II High School is a private school in Hendersonville and I am friends with the special ed teacher there... who is wonderful. Great things are happening there. Her program is more for students with more involved developmental disabilities, but she also helps with the other kids with IEPs I do believe. I hear the state of Kentucky as a whole is doing great with highly qualified teachers and have very high standards. I hope this helps a little. I have limited knowledge but feel free to ask me any questions you may have.

Hi A B, Thank you for your reply! IF this move does happen we'd be looking for a place to live somewhere between Portland and Nashville. We've heard good things about Hendersonville. My husbnd and I will be flying to Nashville in a few weeks for his interview. I am going to visit some of the schools while my husband is interviewing. Does your friend at the private school in Hendersonville have any contacts or inforamtion about the elementary and middle schools in Hendersonville? It would be great to know where to start. Thanks again for your help! Take care, Julie D

Hi Julie! My grandmother lives in Portland! It is a VERY small town...but you'll only be 20 minutes from Nashville. There are numerous support groups all over the area. I'm pretty sure there isn't one in Portland but there are ones in nearby larger towns/cities. Nashville has 3 different programs for bariatric surgery. One is through Vanderbilt University, one is through Centennial Medical Center which is where I had surgery - www.cmcwls.com, and the other is through Baptist Hospital. I'm sure if you do a general google search on these hospitals you will find their websites for their bariatric programs. Also, the support through this site is wonderful! Best wishes - April

Hey Julie, I myself live just outside of Hendersonville & was surprised to hear about the drug running!! LOL Hendersonville/Gallatin area is a very nice, safe, clean place to live..the area is close to lake you can live on/vist..Stores.yes we have Targets, Wal-Mart, MACYS (LOL),Dillards,Belk,alot more nice stores, also alot of quiant specialty store, Grocery shopping we have Publix, Harris Teeter, Krogers, HG Hills (which I think is mostly in Tennessee)there are even Wal-Mart Neighborhood grocery store that have just opened......My mother & stepfather live in Gallatin/Hendersonville area on the lake & they REALLY like the peace & quiet, but you are just a hop,skip & jump from Metro Nashville & surrounding area for shopping...Nice schools..Not sure about Portland, but I know you will find a great place here!!! Hope to meet you!!